Saturday, October 24, 2026
Justin Gusmano, a 15-year-old student in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, has released his first album, “Forever Alive” — a mostly instrumental record that showcases his talent and the work of fellow artists he collaborated with to bring it all together.
Music has always been part of his life, he said, but he really became passionate about pursuing it amid the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I decided to pick the piano back up again,” he said, explaining that he took lessons as a child, “learn the fundamental elements of it, and then I started recording with my dad. My dad’s been a musician his entire life — he plays guitar, bass and drums, and I started to learn the keyboard again, and we started to record music in our home studio. It’s truly been such a wonderful journey.”
“Forever Alive,” which officially came out on March 1, is Justin’s debut album and features eight-tracks that showcase his artistry alongside a lineup of world-class musicians, including his father, Peter Gusmano, and collaborators Rob Balducci, Tony Franklin, Yoed Nir, Hugo Lee, Trent Williamson, and Scott Foster Harris. James Lugo, a producer based in Nashville, brought the entire production together.
“My debut album, titled ‘Forever Alive,’ has eight, brand new tracks on them — each of them expressing a different mood and each song definitely tells a story,” he said. “The whole premise of the album is to express my artistic quest so far as a musician, and this record is pretty much my interpretation of fusion jazz, progressive rock and also a little bit of blues.”
Justin began recording the album in April 2024 at his family’s home studio in Bellmore, and worked on it through last summer, saying it was “some of the most rewarding few months” of his life.
“My dad played guitar, bass and drums on it, and a bunch of incredible studio musicians play on the record with me,” he said. “They were absolutely fantastic. Being able to record this alongside my dad — it was truly such a monumental and special time for me.”
Some of the musicians, he said, were not based in the United States, but in places like Israel and Australia.
“We did this all via satellite, all online,” he said. “I think that’s one of the incredible benefits of technology today is that you can collaborate with musicians all across the world.”
Speaking on the songwriting process, Justin said he strived to write songs and arrange compositions that are all about “the melody and melodic passages.”
“The biggest goal for me is to develop songs that will resonate with the listener,” he added. “Songwriting, to me, is where my heart is. I love playing live, but truly being in the studio, it’s like my second home. It’s where I get to let my creative juices flow. Recording music is just an incredible way to collaborate with other people. I love working with musicians that are all on a different skill level than me, because you get to learn and these people get to impart so much wisdom into your own play. Recording has always been at the core and cornerstone of my musical journey.”
The album is available on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and for purchase in a physical CD format at JustinGusmano.com for $14.99. He said 20 percent of the proceeds from each CD will be donated to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, an organization that supports veterans and Sept. 11 heroes.
“It’s truly an incredible organization,” he said, “and I’m so blessed to have this collaboration with them.”
Seven of the songs featured on the album are instrumental, and one features the vocals of Williamson. Some of Justin’s influences include the Allman Brothers, Johnny Mathis, Eric Clapton and Christopher Cross, among others.
Justin’s dad said instrumental compositions are unique, but the genre is certainly comprehensive.
“You might not have vocals,” Peter Gusmano said, “but at the same time, it is important to make it be a very catchy, memorable melody. I’m not a keyboard player in the least, so it’s kind of interesting that (Justin) gravitated to that.
“The songwriting part is really what kind of amazed me the most,” his father added. “His ability to be able to come with ideas and write these songs, it’s very interesting.”
To learn more about the album and Justin’s musical endeavors, visit his website or his social media accounts, including JGMusicStudios on Instagram.
